'Con con' foes far ahead in fundraising

The opposing sides in the debate over whether Illinois voters should call a new constitutional convention are waging a lopsided battle when it comes to raising money to promote their messages.

Adriana Colindres

The opposing sides in the debate over whether Illinois voters should call a new constitutional convention are waging a lopsided battle when it comes to raising money to promote their messages.

About $1.7 million has been contributed so far to political funds affiliated with the referendum question that will appear on Nov. 4 election ballots. Of that amount, almost all of it — more than $1.5 million — has been directed to a group that wants Illinoisans to vote “no” when they’re asked if they favor a constitutional convention.

The Alliance to Protect the Illinois Constitution formed earlier this year and consists of labor unions, business organizations and interest groups that oppose a “con-con.”

Supporters of a con-con say they always recognized that the “no” side would have greater financial resources. But they contend their arguments in favor of a convention are superior, and that largely offsets their opponents’ monetary advantage.

“The yes side has very shallow pockets,” said Bruno Behrend, a Chicago-area attorney and radio talk show host who supports a new constitutional convention. “We knew this was going to be a David vs. Goliath battle in terms of funding.”

Supporters of a constitutional convention say it could solve problems in government that state officials have been unable or unwilling to tackle, such as school funding reform and changing the state’s tax structure.

Opponents say a convention isn’t needed because government’s problems are caused by the individuals currently in power and aren’t the fault of the constitution.

The Alliance to Protect the Illinois Constitution has attracted some big money, including $100,000 from Exelon, $100,000 from the Illinois Education Association and $300,000 from the Illinois Federation of Teachers, according to campaign finance reports filed with the State Board of Elections.

IFT spokesman Dave Comerford said the teachers union believes a constitutional convention would encourage state legislators to delay dealing with major issues, such as school funding reform, because their attitude would be “Let’s wait and see what the convention does.”

At least four separate groups have been organized to promote a “yes” vote on the constitutional convention question. They had collected a combined total of $124,500 as of Friday, according to reports filed with the Board of Elections.

Behrend said he thinks it’s easier for con-con opponents to raise money because they are “trying to protect a status quo of a fairly insular political class.”

“The money is indicative of the nature of their message,” added Rep. Jack Franks, a Woodstock Democrat who chairs Con Con Yes, one of the groups advocating a convention. Supporters of a convention want to “change the culture of corruption” in Illinois, he said.

Backers of a constitutional convention say they have been promoting their arguments mainly through grass-roots efforts, word-of-mouth and interviews on radio shows and other media outlets.

“Our strategy was to get out there, tell the truth, and let people make an informed decision,” Franks said.

On Thursday, Vote Yes on the Con-Con Coalition started airing a 30-second television ad on Chicago stations, said Judith Gethner, a volunteer with the group.

The Alliance to Protect the Illinois Constitution earlier began broadcasting its own TV ad, in which former Gov. Jim Edgar urges a “no” vote on the constitutional convention.

Officials from the alliance wouldn’t agree this week to be interviewed about the group’s fund-raising.

Instead, an account supervisor with Hill & Knowlton — a public relations firm hired to promote the alliance’s message — e-mailed a statement on behalf of Nancy Kaszak, executive director of the alliance.

“We’ve been heartened by the widespread, bipartisan support the alliance has received from across the state,” Kaszak said in the statement. “There are obviously many people and groups who agree a constitutional convention would be unwise and expensive and want to see a No vote next week.”

Adriana Colindres can be reached at (217) 782-6292 or adriana.colindres@sj-r.com.